We offer Tree service and Tree care from our fully qualified arborists

Over the years trees need tending. This preserves their safety size and growth.  Qualified staff undertakes all our tree surgery.  AC Landscape’s professional arborist is available for consultation and will advise on difficult decisions.

Tree care is peace of mind for you.  Our experience and skills enable us to provide a wide-ranging service.  In addition we also provide surveys, reports, and support for Tree Preservation Order appeals, safety inspections or records for a mortgage.

Providing a wide range of arboricultural services:

Mature Tree Pruning

On mature trees, pruning is required to remove dead and dying branches to maintain tree health and safety. This type of pruning is referred to as cleaning. Research has now documented that thinning, the removal of live branches to reduce crown density, significantly reduces wind resistance and potential storm damage. Thinning should only be done on trees where the crown is “too dense.” AC Landscape & Treeworks arborists have training and experience to evaluate this attribute. Thinning should be concentrated on the outer portions of the canopy leaving as many branches within the interior crown as possible. In some instances, the crown or individual branches require a reduction in length to improve the form and shape of the tree, eliminate interference with objects and structures, and compensate for structural weaknesses. Lower branches may require pruning for similar reasons. This process, known as raising, can also be used to increase the amount of light for grass and ground covering plants beneath the crown of a tree. AC Landscape & Treeworks arborists are trained to evaluate the condition of your trees and determine the type(s) of pruning required to balance your goals and those of managing tree health and safety.

Young Tree Pruning

One aspect of pruning that is most frequently overlooked by clients is structural pruning of young trees. Trees evolved in forests where they tend to grow straighter and lose lower branches due to competition for light. When planted in full sun, as in a landscape situation, many species tend to develop multiple stems and leaders that are more prone to failure. Lower branches tend to grow at the same rate as the terminal leader, which results in weak attachments that are likely to fail later in life. Pruning trees when they are young and growing quickly is critical to ensuring a strong framework for future growth. This pruning focuses on maintaining a single dominant stem unless multiple stems are specifically desired. Branches are pruned so their size remains proportional to the stem diameter at their point of attachment. As trees grow, some branches are removed to ensure adequate spacing between permanent scaffold limbs. The shape of the tree is maintained to provide a natural open grown form typical of the species.

Speciality Pruning

AC Landscape & Treeworks arborists can also develop and maintain formal pruning styles including pollarding, espalier, pleaching, and topiary. Fruit tree pruning is becoming increasingly popular as more consumers grow apples, pears, citrus, and other fruit bearing trees in their gardens. Vista pruning, which is judicious removal of branches to enhance a specific view from a defined location, is also frequently performed.

Cabling and Bracing

Cables and brace rods are supplemental structural supports intended to reduce the risk of failure of weak branches and multiple stems. Cables generally consist of extra high strength steel and are attached to bolts installed in the upper crown of a tree. They are intended to limit the movement of the supported branches so they are less likely to fail during storms. Braces are threaded rods that are installed through unions of weak branches and multiple stems to provide more rigid support from torsional (twisting) forces that can occur in violent weather.
Supplemental structural support systems should only be installed based on a thorough inspection and evaluation of tree structure by our arborists. Materials and techniques must comply with published industry European standards. If trees have lightning protection systems, the conductor must be attached to any support cables in the crown. Homeowners with supplemental structural support systems should contact AC Landscape & Treeworks to inspect the system each year.
Bracing & Propping is the use of artificial support for a section of the tree is often regarded as a last resort upon trees likely to suffer failure. Considering the use of non-injurious bracing systems can provide many additional years of retention or provide time to establish replacements.
We have successfully braced many trees in order to add years on to their life time and to protect trees from winter storm damage.

Felling

All trees will have to be felled at some stage due to death or structural integrity being compromised. We will at all times attempt to plant another sizeable tree in place of one being felled for future generations. Often our felling involves operating in tight and complex surroundings so we dismantle the tree carefully and in manageable sections to ensure a smooth operation.
Once the operation is complete we try and make good use of the wood from the tree by chipping the produce to create worthwhile material that can be used in weed suppression.
If the resulting stump is a problem, we can grind the stump out. Usually this is to an approximate depth of 150mm below ground level, although with our specialist equipment we can grind out stumps completely and even eradicate any lateral roots if desired. Also, we can remove excess arisings and additionally spread top soil and grass seed over the immediate area. Supplementary quotations are available for these services.

Standard Felling

Sometimes it is necessary to fell a tree, this can usually be done by one of two ways.
Felling the tree from the base, this method is usually used in a wooded area or garden with adequate room and with little in the way. This method can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy.

Section Felling

Section felling is the removal of a tree in a confined space, lowering each branch and trunk section in a highly controlled manner as to avoid any damage to nearby objects. i.e. houses, conservatories, or any number of things. This operation involves a qualified climber or person in a hydraulic platform, ropes, winches, pulleys, lowering devices etc. Our climbers are trained to NPTC CS38, 39, 40, 41

Consultancy

Over recent years, demand has increased for tree consultancy services. Having a team committed specifically to these services enables AC Landscape & Treeworks to provide surveys, reports and management plans for a wide variety of clients and needs. In the field of tree safety and management we are able to undertake tree surveys to almost any specification from individual decay and disease detection and we can act for clients on a varied range of issues such as tree insurance matters, mortgage risk assessments, high hedges disputes and environmental management. Our team of consultants has considerable expertise and qualification in arboriculture, amenity forestry and the environment as well as significant experience working with both the private and public sector – from private households to small or large companies to land owners.

Planting and Transplanting

Tree and Shrub Planting

We provide a full tree and shrub planting service from whip size through to semi mature with the selection of bare root through to large container plants. Our planting can often involve large and complex machinery – such as cranes working in very tight and constricted environments – when we are installing semi mature stock.
Our shrub planting service concentrates on container material and we can supply and plant shrubs of all sizes from 1-litre pots to instant hedges up to 3 metres tall. We also supply a full after care service to ensure that all the plants are cared for in their first year and beyond.

Stump Removal

AC Landscape & Treeworks provide a stump removal service when required by employing one of 2 stump grinders. One that is capable of getting through tight gateways with awkward access and the other, more powerful stump grinding machine. The grinders have tungsten tipped teeth that mulch the stump below the ground level so that the hole created can be back filled and then reseeded. The result leaves little if no evidence of the trees existence.

Seasoned Hardwood Logs & Woodchip supplies:

With the prices for non-renewable energy soaring, the demand for renewable and less expensive energy is booming. AC Landscape & Treeworks store hardwood logs under cover between 6 and 12 months to ensure they are fully seasoned when they are delivered to your door.
AC Landscape & Treeworks recycle our woodchip after 6 months decomposition, as it releases its’ excellent nutrients and vitamins back into the soil. It is perfect for herbaceous borders and flowerbeds and as an added bonus, keeps the weeds down!

Hedge laying

Hedge laying is always carried out in the Winter months while the sap is down. The bottom of the hedge is cleared as much as is practicable to allow the Sun in to encourage as many new shoots as possible. Each individual tree is then pruned of large side branches. A partial cut is applied to the back of each stem and one by one woven and staked into a continuous barrier.

AC Landscapes carried out all the work very professionally. Nothing was too much trouble.
Mrs Coulson, Torquay, Devon.